Stuck In-between Ethical Journalism and Charming Journalism

Something that stood out to me about Broadcast news is how the love triangle really emphasized different journalistic approaches. Jane was stuck in the middle of two people who approached journalism differently, but were also different people all together. Tom is a handsome, not very intelligent, kind anchorman, while Aaron is a less than average, brilliant, arrogant on site reporter. Jane is stuck in the middle of these two people. She herself is kind, energetic, and intelligent and seeks to provide an honest quality to journalism that doesn't sensationalize the news, but presents it as it is. She's trapped between choosing two men. One (Aaron) fits her journalistic approach and matches her level of intelligence, but he's arrogant about it and drives people away. The other (Tom) is willing to fabricate aspects of a news report and insert himself into the story for a sentimental approach, something Jane has been fighting against. But, Tom is so charming Jane looks past that aspect about him. In the end, she finds that she can't mesh with either of them and ends up being single. For her, she had to have the aspects of being kind, charming, intelligent and journalistically honest. Something Tom and Aaron in part both possessed, but individually did not possess completely.

In this scene below Aaron expresses how he feels about Tom, and Aaron. He nails, in part, what Tom is doing to Jane and how she shouldn't fall in love with a man who doesn't agree with her standards of Journalism, no matter how charming he may be.

Broadcast News

Broadcast News actually had a couple of points that I found quite journalistically relevant. One thing that really stood out to me was Tom’s humility. He was always the first one to admit that he wasn’t as qualified as Aaron, even when everyone else disagreed. He never let his success and natural talent get to his head, and he always sought instruction and criticism so that he could be better. This is not only admirable, but necessary in journalism. Another key point was Jane’s journalistic integrity. It may have seemed a little ridiculous for her to reject Tom over faking a response for the rape story, but it showed how seriously she took her job. The entire movie builds up to that moment, and by this point you already know how much she likes Tom. The fact that she rejects him over even a tiny lie shows that dishonesty in journalism is intolerable. It is admirable that she kept to her standards, even when her heart was involved.

An article in Time about Holly Hunter’s character in Broadcast News

Get outa my head!

The thing that struck me about "Broadcast News" didn't really have to do with the film too much, although the tension was built nicely in this scene do to dynamic shooting. I had no idea that there was that constant stream of communication between the anchor and the producer! That is incredible, to speak articulately while being given your next lines at THE SAME TIME. I bet anchors can pat their heads while rubbing their tummies like no one else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDlg2JZXp4A&feature=related

Broadcast News and The Paper

Broadcast News

Jane Craig of Broadcast News makes every effort practice good journalism, and to rebuke those who don't. Her passion for reporting and doing her absolute best is apparent throughout the film. She is very much a control freak and at times, it can get her into trouble. Though a complete exaggeration, this film is also a good illustration of the inner workings of a more modern television news room. This is especially evident during the scene where Jane takes over the set as executive producer passing on guidance into the ear piece of anchor Tom Grunick. As the film progresses Tom and Jane begin to fall for each other. Jane's co-worker and long time friend Aaron Altman watches their relationship develop with great frustration, as he too has feelings for Jane. Much to his dismay, Tom and Jane do wind up together and eventually prepare to take a week trip to a tropical island. Aaron feels the need to tell Jane that Tom shot footage of himself after having completed an interview and had inserted the later footage into the final cut. This made Jane realize that Tom epitomized everything everything that she hated most about the direction journalism was heading. The movie ends with neither Tom nor Aaron winning Jane, who has found another man.

The Paper

The Paper tells the story of another passionate individual, Henry Hackett, who is an editor at the New York Sun. Henry's only problem is that he takes his passion to an unhealthy level when it comes before his pregnant wife Martha. When there's a story brewing, Henry's every thought is focused on finding the next detail of the story that will bring it closer to print. He generally practices good journalism and his conscious is actively involved in his decision making process. He did steal a lead from the editor of a rival paper during an interview, but he refused to go to print with a false story. He went to any lengths necessary to obtain the quote he needed to set the story right before going to print.

Broadcast News

When watching Broadcast News I was really only struck by one thing, how much work goes into every production. The same goes for The Paper. Every night all the workers get together and put on a half hour play that they wrote the same day. It has to be timed down to the minute, it has to be accurate in its information, and most of all it has to be entertaining for the audience that is going to be watching it. It is no wonder that a majority of film and TV producers say that their job is stressful. And if Broadcast News seems like it was over the top, that maybe it was just a parody of the stresses of a newsroom this interview with Bob Schieffer should change your mind. Mr. Schieffer says that if anything Broadcast News is a documentary because of the great way it portrays the stresses of a news program. So whether you liked the movie or not, you cannot claim that it is inaccurate.